NASCAR continues to thrive in the ever-changing environment, and as they are quickly closing in on the Playoff portion of the schedule, its time to start looking at the current playoff field. That is why this week’s edition of the NASCAR Power Rankings is the Winners edition. Through 19 races, they have been 10 different winners. At the rate Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick are winning, six spots still remain open to drivers without victories at this point. From a rookie to veteran’s here are how the 2020 winners rank this season.
1. Denny Hamlin – 5 wins
Denny Hamlin started out 2020, much as he did in 2019, by winning the Daytona 500. The following three races weren’t quite as impressive with only one other top 10. Then the Coronavirus struck and racing stopped for nearly three months. Once it returned Hamlin’s drive for the Championship began, as he has since won at Darlington, Homestead, Pocono, and most recently last Thursday’s race at Kansas. With five victories and 11 top 10s, Denny is at the top of his game.
2. Kevin Harvick – 4 wins
Hamlin might have the most wins, but Kevin Harvick has been their right on his tail all season. His four wins have come at Darlington, Atlanta, Pocono, and the Brickyard 400. He might not have the most wins right now, but he is the points leader with seven-straight top-five finishes dating back to June 21st race at Talladega. He has finish top 10 in 16 of the 19 races this season. Perhaps a win on Sunday at New Hampshire could boost him back to the top of the list.
3. Brad Keselowski – 2 wins
Keselowski’s future still seems a bit fuzzy, as he has yet to establish a new contract with Team Penske. The 2012 champ, won’t let that stop him though, as he has two wins this season. Those victories came in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte and a win at Bristol as well. His runner-up finish at Kansas has Brad looking forward to the next few weeks. Is this the year he finally wins at his home track, with a doubleheader at Michigan on the horizon?
4. Joey Logano- 2 wins
Joey Logano looked like a heavy favorite after winning two of the first four races this season. Yet since the return to racing, he has failed to find victory lane. With just eight top 10s this season, Logano is pretty lucky to be in this fourth spot, just based on his wins at Las Vegas and Phoenix.
T-5th Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott – 1 win
Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott are not only tough competitors for each other they are also best friends off the track. No wonder their numbers are fairly similar as each has one victory in 2020. They both also have nine top 10 finishes apiece. Chase grabbed his win at Charlotte, while Blaney was able to outlast the rest of the field at Talladega back in June. Both drivers should be fun to watch as the playoffs approach.
7th Martin Truex Jr – 1 win
Outside of Denny Hamlin wins have been pretty scarce for Joe Gibbs Racing. A team that won over 18 races in 2019. Martin Truex is lucky to be among the winners this season, as he scored his lone victory in the first-ever night race at Martinsville. He has really picked it up in the races since with 10 top 10s this season. Can he return to form before the playoffs start?
8th Alex Bowman – 1 win
Alex Bowman shocked many when he was the first Hendrick driver to win in 2020 when he dominated the race at Auto Club Speedway back in March. It has been hut or miss since for the #88 Chevy. He only has six top 10s, which doesn’t bode well for a very long run in the 2020 Playoffs. Still, with two career Cup victories, Bowman has lived up to expectations.
9th Austin Dillon – 1 win
The ninth and 10th place spots in the rankings could be interchangeable, as both Austin Dillion and Cole Custer were far from expected winners coming into 2020. Dillon was the most recent shocking winner, as he held off his rookie teammate Tyler Reddick along with Kyle Busch to win at Texas Motor Speedway. The third win of his career, and first for RCR since his win in the 2018 Daytona 500. His five top 10s are nearly the lowest of the 10 winners this season.
10th Cole Custer – 1 win
The one driver that has less in that of rookie contender Cole Custer, who outshined three of the sports best drivers at Kentucky Speedway only three weeks ago. Custer shocked the racing world with his first win coming in just his 20th career start. Many expected the 2020 rookie class to be competitive, but Custer became the first rookie to win a race since Chris Buescher in 2016. Many would say Buescher’s was a fluke, but Cole’s was definitely no fluke.
Who will join them?
Anyone, Kyle Busch where are you? What about Aric Almirola? Kurt Busch? With just seven races remaining until the 2020 Playoffs, can anyone who hasn’t already won find a way to return to victory lane? Kyle Busch had a lot of wins at this point in 2019, and he won the championship last season. 2020 has been a crazy year in NASCAR for sure.
